2013-2014 Homeschool Curriculum

What does homeschool curriculum look like when you’ve decided to quit homeschooling? Does it mean you take all of the books, pencils, papers, notebooks and throw them out of the window?

Or does it mean something else.

For me and our home, it does mean something else. It means taking time each and every day to place God first. It means Homeschooling for Eternity and having a Biblical perspective about life and homeschooling.

It means asking – does this benefit the eternal soul of my child rather than just getting a good job?

It’s the heart of our home. Not just having children who go to school to get good grades so they can get a college degree –> good paying job and then….. RETIRE.

Honestly, there are not many people I have met who find true joy in retirement. What most people (I know) discover is that they have finally reached that goal and – well, it’s like every other day.

But, when you look at a life that has been focused on seeking that purpose for which they were created in order to please God and go make disciples of all nations – their goal is NOT to retire, but to do what we were created to do.

Work.

Yep, it’s right there in Genesis: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)

So, we are seeking all things to glorify God first and foremost. We are learning and growing using the following:

(note, other than the Bible (which is the core of our home), these are resources we are using. They will not dictate our days, but will be used to grow our knowledge and wisdom for Christ.)

FIRST

The Bible. We will begin each and everyday with individual time reading, meditating and praying. We will then spend time together as a family. Each month, we will select a different book in the Bible and we will read it twice every day together. We started doing this two months ago and it has been SUCH a blessing. We also use some really great apps to do word studies and identify the original Hebrew/Greek text. So, when I say this is most important in our home…I am very serious about that.

Hands On Learning

I have learned (especially over this past year) that I need to say YES to the things my children ask to do/make. Does that mean if they ask for a soda they get it? No. But, if they ask to – make a table, dress up like a character in a book, crochet while I read, sew with some leftover thread, read upside down or lying down on the couch, cook something from a cook book, go clean horse stalls – whatever it is, I need to make time to do that. This past year, we took time to do those things and I witnessed my children growing and learning. They weren’t rushed or hurried.

Art and Music have become important in our homes. So, this year, we will use A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels. My children have access to the eBook and our Art Cart is ready and available. Our music station with cds, piano and violins are prepared, along with our composer study. The sewing machine is out of the bag and ready to go. Last but not least, yarn, needles and the garage are well equipped for the many odds/ends our children desire to take an interest in.

Worldview

We are starting with the Who Is God series from Apologia again. We have read all three books they currently have available and will begin back with the first book as we anxiously await the 4th book.

All of our books have not arrived. We will be using Physics (oldest), Botany (Apologia and AIG) for middle and Solar system for little guy (AIG and Apologia ) for little guy. We will all work through the Media Angels books, as they are unit studies and I will take breaks from our other curriculum to enjoy those and add a little flavor to our year.

We will also use the Truth Seeker Series (which we have already started and LOVE) for some fun living books experience (this is also part of our language arts studies)

Language Arts

I am keeping Language Arts simple this year. Because we use notebooking, I don’t think this area needs to be heavy.

Comments

We’re starting Who is God as well! Thanks for the books I have been reading the first few lessons and can’t wait to get started with my boys. My oldest is working through AIG Astronomy too (we didn’t finish this year). Oh and my little one says to tell his new best friend hello 🙂

LaToya,
You are going to love Who Is God? We have read all three and the children beg to read it daily. AIG Astronomy is great – we have used that, as well as Apologia – both are really good! I can’t wait to read about your school year!

But I understand what you mean. It’s so important to read the Bible regularly and to base your whole homeschool on it. My husband and I are both so blessed to come from homes where the Bible is read at every meal, and we’ve carried on that tradition. Reading God’s word regularly is a life changer.

Yes, I have resources we will use. But we will use them and not let them rule us. WHat a blessing for the way you grew up! We did not grow up that way and are praying God strengthens us and we create new traditions in building eternal legacies for our children. Thank you for dropping by Annie Kate.